St Pauls, London

Patricia Willis 1914 - 1969, was a Canadian born artist who lived in London and painted several urban landscapes, depicting areas well known to the overseas viewers. This painting which is oil on canvas was painted in 1962 and was one of several London landscapes of familiar locations. This painting was exhibited, we believe, at the Royal Academy but the specific date is questionable as Willis exhibited two versions of St Pauls from different locations, this picture includes Saint Augustines church of Watling Street. We believe this was exhibited in 1962, the other view was exhibited in 1957, however artists are well known for not finishing their paintings and the date on the painting could have been administered some time after 1957, the exhibition dates are included within this biography below. This painting is signed and dated 1962. I have included the before and after cleaning images for your interest. I have included an alternative short biography below. Patricia Marjorie Willis (1914–1969) was a Canadian-born painter and educator who spent much of her professional life in London. Best known for her portraiture and detailed watercolours, she became a respected figure within the British art community mid-century. Born in Kelowna, British Columbia, Willis received her initial education in Canada before moving to England. She pursued formal art training at the Byam Shaw School of Art in London over two distinct periods: 1938–1941: Her initial studies were interrupted by the broader events of World War II. 1952–1955: She returned to the school to complete her training. During her time at Byam Shaw, she studied under prominent artists including Peter Greenham, Charles Mahoney, and Patrick Phillips. After completing two separate periods of study at the Byam Shaw School of Art (1938–1941 and 1952–1955), Willis returned as a staff member. She taught at the school for eight years. This was a significant era for the institution, as she worked alongside her former mentors, including Patrick Phillips, who served as the school's principal during her second period of study. Her teaching years placed her at the heart of a community influenced by the "Byam Shaw tradition" of strong draughtsmanship and traditional portraiture. Willis is best remembered for her cityscapes of Central and West London, many of which were created during or shortly after her teaching tenure. She lived in Gledhow Gardens for several years and frequently painted the local area. Her work Gledhow Gardens is part of the Kensington Central Library collection. She captured several historic churches and landmarks, including: St Paul's Cathedral: As noted, she painted multiple views, including one from Hungerford Bridge. She painted St Michael Paternoster Royal, a church in the City of London, in 1962. Her first Royal Academy exhibition in 1955 featured a view From Hammersmith Bridge. Willis established herself as a skilled portrait painter and watercolourist. Her career was closely tied to her alma mater, where she served as a teacher from 1957 to 1965. Her artistic contributions were recognised on a national level, with her works appearing in three exhibitions at the Royal Academy. While her portraits earned her significant acclaim, she was also an adept painter of London cityscapes. Notable works include: London Landmarks: Paintings of St Paul’s and St Michael Paternoster Royal. Kensington Scenes: She lived for several years in Gledhow Gardens, South Kensington, a location that featured in her work. Her painting of Gledhow Gardens is held in the Kensington Library collection. Her biography is documented in authoritative records such as The Dictionary of Artists in Britain Since 1945 by David Buckman, who also wrote East London Group. Patricia Marjorie Willis exhibited two different views of St Paul’s Cathedral at the Royal Academy: 1957: She exhibited a painting simply titled St Pauls. 1962: She exhibited a second work titled St Pauls from Hungerford Bridge. These were two of her three total appearances at the Royal Academy; her first was in 1955 with a painting titled From Hammersmith Bridge. While she was primarily recognised for her portraits, these exhibited cityscapes highlight her focus on London landmarks during her time living in South Kensington. This is a well executed oil on canvas by an established, acclaimed painter and we have included a number of images that clarify her abilities.